Choose a Guide - Tips from Riverdrivers

The Consumers Guide to Whitewater Rafting in Maine.

How to choose an outfitter:

A. What to ask

Choosing an outfitter for your rafting trip takes some looking around. Each outfitter will claim to be the “best”- and each will justify that claim by using a different definition of “best” What you need to do is to weed out the hype and then figure out which definition you agree with most. There are a lot of things that go into making your trip enjoyable and exciting, and it’s up to you to ask questions about the specifics behind the claims.

The first thing to do is to call the outfitters, ask for their brochures, and take notes! Put Riverdrivers Whitewater Rafting to the test today!

When you call an outfitter, make sure to ask at least two questions:

Why should I choose your company? (make them be specific)
What do you do to make the trip more interesting and fun (on and off the river)?

Once you get their brochures, check for the following information:

What facilities and amenities do they offer on and off the river?
What size rafts do they normally use and how many people do they carry?
Are other sizes available?
How many people will be on the trip?
Can they take care of my special needs (birthday cake, baby sitter, dietary restrictions, etc.)?
Do they cancel trips if there are insufficient bookings? (This is important because you don’t want to make a reservation that’s subject to cancellation due to insufficient bookings. If minimum trip size is a potential problem, either try another outfitter or pick a date which can be assured.)
What is included in the standard trip?
What is your safety record?

If you don’t find answers to these questions in the brochures, call the outfitters back to ask about them.

After you’ve looked through the brochures and narrowed down the field, call your top choices again. You may be pressured to book immediately because “many dates are filling up.” Even if that is true, you should take the time to talk to more then one or two outfitters. There’s no reason to rush into a commitment if you’re not sure about your choice. After all, it’s your money, and it’s your experience- so take the time to look around and get the trip that’s best for you.

Those are the nuts and bolts of choosing an outfitter- the basic stuff you need to find out. But personal preference is a big part of it too. For example, the style and personality of the outfitter you will choose will make a big difference to your enjoyment of the trip. So try to get a feel for the personality of the company ( and employees) from your phone calls and from the literature they send you.

B: What size is right for you?

You’ll also need to decide whether you’d rather go with a small, medium, or large outfitter. Large outfitters generally have more on site facilities at their lodge or base camp. Smaller outfitters generally have a more personal atmosphere. Guides from all companies agree that small trips are better as far as the rafting itself, but having lots of people around, with an almost carnival atmosphere, might appear to you more. Of course, with fewer people, you won’t have to stand in lines as much for sign up, equipment, and meals. On the river, a trip with one to four rafts is more relaxed, and it gives you more time (and options) to enjoy the river experience then a trip with ten rafts.

C: Lodging arrangements

Then there’s the lodging: would you rather stay at a full scale resort or a smaller bed and breakfast? You can combine a larger resort facility with the advantages of a small trip by using a large outfitter on an “off” day- during the middle of the week in September for example- or by rafting with a smaller outfitter and arranging for your lodging (or camping) with a large outfitter. Lodging and camping is also available at bed and breakfasts, sporting camps, motels, etc., that aren’t affiliated with an outfitter.

Those are some things to think about when you’re making your choice. Most importantly, take the time to get the facts you need, and make sure you don’t have any unanswered questions when you make your final choice. Compare the facts, and go with the outfitter you feel best about. Then have Fun!

D: Making your reservation

When you’re ready to make a reservation you’ll need to provide the outfitter with answers to these questions

How many people are in your group?
When do you want to go? (It helps if you can have alternate dates ready in case your first choice is full.)
Which river?
Are there any special arrangements you would like?
What kind of lodging or camping arrangements would you like? (if any.)
Do you want to send a check or pay with a credit card

Recommendations for a first trip

If you haven’t rafted before, a one day Kennebec trip makes a great first time rafting trip. Why? The Kennebec has daily dam-controlled water releases, which means you, can go anytime you want. (Unlike the Dead River) The Kennebec is two hours closer then the Penobscot if you are coming from points south. It has the biggest waves and it is not a technical run- in other words, there are few exposed rocks to maneuver around- so it’s good for novices.

The Dead River is a more challenging river with more rapids but has fewer releases over the year.

The Penobscot River is consists of steep drops and giant holes. It is very fun but may not be for everyone.

The Dead River, the Kennebec River and the Penobscot River all make for a great whitewater trip, and each has its own unique appeal. But for a first trip, the Kennebec is a good place to start.

Some facts on group trips

The hardest part of organizing a group trip is setting the date and getting everyone’s money collected. Most outfitters require a deposit within a short time of making a reservation, even if you’re reserving months ahead of your trip date. Some outfitters will hold space for a longer time if you ask them and you can show a need.

Be very cautious about fronting deposits for other people- check the cancellation policy first or you may get stuck. Whitewater outfitters in Maine have a short season and limited space (limits are set by legislation as well as operational capacity). Unlike airlines, they can not overbook rafts: when you make a reservation, you are buying a space in a raft on a certain date on a certain river

Typical costs

Basic rafting fees range from $60 to over a $100. Fees vary by season and river. Also some trips include lobster bakes, pig roasts or other special functions that may increase the costs a bit. Camping ranges from $8 to $20 per person. Lodging ranges from $18 to over a $100 per person depending on how luxurious and season. Meal and camping packages are available to lesson your cost and save you time in booking your adventure.

When to go

The rafting season in Maine runs from late April to October. If you’re rafting on the Kennebec or Penobscot, seasonal water levels are not really a factor, because they are dam-controlled water releases all season long. On these two rivers, you can be assured of a good trip just about any time during the season. The Dead River also has dam releases, but it has more limited availability, so you’ll need to check the schedules. In terms of weather, the warmest conditions are July and August. If you want to camp out, you may want to plan around Maine’s black fly season, which lasts for about a month starting in mid May. Its fine on the river, but camping in the woods can be annoying.

As far as what days of the week are best, weekdays offer fewer on the river and lower fares. It could be argued that the overall best time to go is a weekday right after Labor Day- when the waters warm, a good chance of having warm weather, very few people on the rivers, and few nuisance insects.

About whitewater rafts

Here’s some of the basic technical information you might want to know about the rafts you’ll be using on your trip.

Rafts used for whitewater are made of a heavy fabric like nylon or polyester, which has been coated on both sides with neoprene, hypalon or vinyl. They’re usually constructed with four separate air chambers for the outside tube so that in the event of a puncture, which is very infrequent, three chambers will remain. In addition, each thwart, or cross tube, is also a separate chamber, and if the raft is self-bailing, the floor is also a separate chamber. Rafts easily withstand most collisions with rocks because they

are flexible. It takes a very sharp rock to puncture one.

Self-bailing rafts have an inflated floor, the top of which is above the waterline. Holes along the floor’s edge allow water to drain out. The advantage of a self bailer is that you never need to empty the rafts with buckets, and the inflated floor provides a cushion in case you should fall on to the floor at the same time the raft is going over a rock. Also early and late season rafting can be more enjoyable as your feet aren’t in two feet of water!

Whitewater rafting styles

In the rafting world there are two main styles of rafting, row frames and paddle rafts. Row frames are equipped with a frame and a large pair of oars. The guide sits in the middle and controls the raft by using the oars while the passengers sit in the front and back and just hang on. This arrangement allows challenged guest or younger kids to go on trips more safely. Paddle rafts, like the name implies, have each passenger paddle and the guide sits in the back ruddering and calling out paddle instructions. It is very much a team sport and can be extremely rewarding conquering the rapids this way. Most of the rafting trips in Maine are this style.

Raft Sizes

The size of the raft makes a real difference to your enjoyment of the trip. The minimum raft size on the Kennebec and the Dead Rivers is 13’; on the Penobscot it’s 15’. In the rapids with the largest waves and the biggest drops you’ll get a good ride in any size raft. But in moderate rapids, the largest rafts tend to smooth out the ride, and the smaller rafts can be a lot more fun.

With water levels above 5000 cfs on the Dead and any level on the Kennebec, any size raft is fun. With levels less then 5000 cfs on the Dead, the smaller ones keep the excitement high. A smaller raft on the Kennebec can take an ordinary trip over the top! Larger rafts will hold up to 10 people keeping your group together if you wish. Raft sizes on the Penobscot are limited to 15’ and above because of the intense whitewater.

Safety

Maine has very comprehensive regulations concerning the safety of rafting outfitters. In fact they may be the most rigorous in the world. Outfitters in Maine have a high degree of professionalism and a concern with safety that goes well beyond meeting the minimum state requirements. All outfitters are required to file accident reports for any injuries which require medical attention after the trip. These reports are examined each year by the Whitewater Safety Committee to see if any single company shows a significantly higher injury rate, and to see if the reports can be used to identify any industry wide problem areas

So far nothing has been learned from these reports- and in this case no news is good news. One reason that it is so hard to spot any trends is that there are so few injuries. Each year, over 60,000 people go rafting in Maine with less then 50 injuries per year! Safety gear like lifejackets are mandatory to wear and helmets vary among outfitters and rivers. All outfitters have helmets to wear if you choose. Some companies will allow you to wear your own suitable helmet; however you must wear the outfitters lifejacket. You may bring your own wetsuit if you wish to save a few rental dollars.

Each trip starts with an in depth “safety talk”. It covers everything from river safety to how to paddle to how best to stow your camera. This can be the scariest part of the trip but it is responsible for our outstanding safety record. Please listen closely and ask any questions you have.

Having normal health is recommended but it may not be a factor. Ask what your company can do to accommodate you. Certain rivers at certain levels can allow just about everyone to experience whitewater rafting in Maine!

So there you have it- all the information you need to book your trip and get the most for your money. See you on the river!

Call Riverdrivers today to answer your questions and book your whitewater trip!

Whitewater Rafting on the Kennebec River offered by Riverdrivers.com